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ROLEX SYDNEY TO HOBART
Weather expert Roger Badham has thrown cold water on the hopes of the super maxis claiming a new race record in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart, claiming light, shifty winds in Bass Strait and a traditional "shutdown" in the home stretch on the Derwent River have doused chances of a new mark.

Badham, a meteorologist who analyses and calls the weather with America's Cup, round-the-world racing and Olympic teams, said he would be "very surprised" if Wild Oats, City Index Leopard or Skandia manage to better the Wild Oats 2005 time of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds for the 628 nautical mile race south.

Badham said the 63rd edition of the Australian bluewater classic would still be fast but perhaps not fast enough.

"I still can't see a record being broken," he said.

"It is still good conditions for the first night but still too variable on the 27th where it (the wind) goes round the clock.

"They will get close (to the record) but I would be very surprised if they break it.

"It's a very good record and I think these conditions will just fall short."

The area of contention for the world-renowned meteorologist is the second day at sea, when the fleet headliners will be diving into Bass Strait, and early on December 28 on the finishing straight, the fickle Derwent River. -- Amanda Lulham in Fox Sports Australia, full article on www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22968530-23218,00.html

* Skandia skipper Grant Wharington has hosed down talk of a Sydney to Hobart yacht race record and declared his perennially contending boat was in great shape with new sails.

Talk over recent days has centred on the likelihood of the race record set by Wild Oats 11 in 2005 being broken because of a favourable weather forecast.

After monitoring the weather, Wharington, was less bullish about any boat beating the record of one day 18 hours 40 minutes 10 seconds, despite the presence of three quality maxis in Wild Oats 11, Skandia and new British entry City Index Leppard.

"It keeps dropping at the moment, it's not looking like a record really, I think we're probably going to get slowed down a bit," Wharington said.

While some, including City Index Leppard skipper Mike Slade, have given Skandia little hope of repeating its 2003 line honours win, Wharington was upbeat about her prospects after trying out new sails over the past two days.

Ray Roberts, the skipper and owner of fancied 17m contender Quantum Racing, said more than 20 boats had a chance of taking handicap honours.

Veteran Roger Hickman, who has finished in the top 10 on corrected time in over two-thirds of his 30 Hobarts, said the boat that got to Hobart just before the second predicted front would probably be the one to beat.

South Africa-born Joubert, the sailing master aboard new American Transpac 65 boat Rosebud, was confident his craft could handle the wide variety of conditions often thrown up by the race. -- Stuff.co.nz: www.stuff.co.nz/4336211a1823.html

* At 9.30am, on the second day of last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, about 60 miles off the New South Wales town of Narooma, Queenslander Mike Freebairn's world began to come apart at the seams. Koomooloo, the beautiful timber ocean racing veteran that he and his father had so painstakingly restored was sinking.

The news rocked the sailing world. This former Hobart winner was a legend, a living piece of Australian ocean racing history. Even at 38 years of age, Koomooloo was still competitive. During the night she had been leading the 2006 fleet on corrected time, and the race was shaping up as one ready made for the strong, up-wind IOR style boat of her era. In the end another IOR veteran, Love and War was to take the silverware. Mike Freebairn was shattered.

In the days after the disaster an ashen Freebairn roamed the docks of Hobart. It all seemed so surreal. But even then he was beginning to think about where to go next, and what it would take.

"Koomooloo was our life. It wasn't disrespectful. I put every penny I ever had into her, but we wanted to keep going. And another racing legend had come onto the market. Margaret Rintoul ll.

Margaret Rintoul ll was built in the same boat yard and in the same year as Koomooloo, 1968, and started its life as the first of Syd Fischer's Ragamuffins. He had sailed her to victory in the 1971 Fastnet Race. She represented Australia in three Admiral's Cups and has raced to Hobart 21 times. An S&S 49, with trademark Sparkman and Stephens tumblehome and refined reverse transom, she is as much sculpture as sailing boat.

"Every time I came down to Sydney with Koomooloo I used to walk along the CYCA dock to look at her," Freebairn says. "We searched all round the world for a replacement for Koomooloo but really it was just to confirm that Margaret Rintoul ll was the right choice." So Margaret Rintoul ll became Spirit of Koomooloo.

Spirit of Koomooloo is a bigger, more powerful, heavier boat than her namesake. "She is more comfortable in a breeze. In Koomooloo we got thrown around a lot. She is also nicer to drive downwind. Koomooloo was fast to windward but she was a real arm wrestle down hill. You always felt there was a potential for disaster.

"Because of the way the new boat rates, though, it has shifted our potential from winning the Rolex Sydney Hobart overall to winning our division. We always felt that given the right conditions we could win in Koomooloo, so it feels different coming to Sydney this year. We have put in the same preparation but we are more relaxed.

rolexsydneyhobart.com/default.asp

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HALFWAY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
The leaders in the Barcelona World Race are expected to close in on Cook Strait in New Zealand on Christmas Day. Cook Strait marks the halfway point of the race, so the top pair will be halfway home on Christmas.

Paprec-Virback 2 holds the lead at the end of the week, up by 100 miles on Hugo Boss. This pair has been playing a game of cat and mouse all week with first one and then the other making a gain.

"There are the various compression zones or areas where the lead boat gets slowed down...or in contrast t! he lead boat gets in a position to stretch out. So to a certain extent it is very much due to the weather and how we've positioned ourselves with regard to the weather," said Damian Foxall on Paprec-Virbac 2 when asked to account for the sudden gains and losses. "Otherwise, there are some sweet spots for each boat and in particular I think with the sail plans. Our objective (on Paprec-Virbac 2) is to find a nice lane, have the right set of sails up and just let the boat go fast and not be too fussed about the heading. Then, when you get maybe 15 or 20 degrees off course it's time to switch sails again. I think that accounts for some of the differences."

While no longer in the famed 'Furious Fifties', the leaders have battled through some of the toughest conditions yet, with days where the wind is 35 to 40 knots and gusting above 45 knots (90km/h). "Yeah, it's still pretty heinous," was the understated way Damian Foxall described the conditions.

Day 43- December 23, 16:00 GMT - Position report with dis! tance to leader

1. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean Pierre Dick / Damian Foxall - 0
2. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson / Andrew Cape - 103
3. Temenos 2 - Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret- 1597
4. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso / Pachi Rivero - 1989
5. Educacion Sin Fronteras - Servane Escoffier / Albert Bargues - 3047

Abandoned - Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain / Jean Luc Nelias
Abandoned - Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill / Jonathan Mckee
Abandoned - Delta Dore - Jeremie Beyou / Sidney Gavignet
Abandoned - Prb - Vincent Riou / Sebastien Josse

www.barcelonaworldrace.com

* To the detriment of Michele and Dominique, the front expected since yesterday, still seems to be astern of Temenos II. The rather unexpected consequence for the duo is that their monohull is struggling to make headway, caught in a zone of calm.

"Last night was fairly fast, but since then it's really been very light. We have 11 knots at the moment and we're stalling a bit so we're really looking forward to this front, constantly checking the barometer! We can make out a big cloud mass behind us, but it doesn't seem to be moving very quickly. Since entering the Indian Ocean we've got used to making 15 knots... The next light patches will be particularly hard on the nerves!" predicted Michele contacted this afternoon.

And a light spell may well be part of the equation once they climb up towards Wellington where the boat looks set to arrive around 2nd January. "For the time being there are light zones pretty much everywhere, and a fine anticyclone is in the process of settling in place across our route. It's very active up there though, so we're still hoping that the situation will develop over the next few days."

Benefiting from this surprise calm, Michele and Dominique have found the time to get their Christmas decorations out of their bag. At sea for the past 43 days, the idea of spending Christmas at sea gets a mixed response from our French sailor.

"It's nice to have a touch of colour aboard, the garlands moving in time to the waves. Moments like these evoke images of land, which clearly makes you a little nostalgic. On shore during these periods there is just a whirlwind of people. At sea, you don't have to trawl around the shops and you have time to immerse yourself in your memories, especially with the conditions being very calm at the moment..."

Conditions are likely to be livelier once the front decides to take a step towards the monohull, Temenos II... -- Kate Jennings

FOR BORED AC SAILORS
OC Events, with the support of iShares and our other partners, are delighted to announce the dates for the 2008 iShares Cup. Confirmed venues will be announced once negotiations with the relevant cities have been completed.

30 May-1 June - Switzerland / Italy
13-15 June - France
2-4 August - UK
29-31 August - Germany
19-21 September - The Netherlands

In addition to the iShares Cup events, a number of the Extreme 40 campaigns have already noted their intention to be present at other one-off events to complete their full season, such as the Abu Dhabi event in March, pre-event in the days before The Artemis Transat (11 May start) in Plymouth, JPMAM Round the Island Race (Cowes - 28th June), racing in Skandia Cowes Week itself (5th-9th August), and Centomiglia (6th September). All in all an excellent season is planned, with good Return on Investment for all sponsors and a great deal of exciting and challenging short course racing for the sailors.

www.isharescup.com

* On Wednesday December 19th 2007, Andreas Hagara (AUT) was officially announced as helmsman of the Holmatro Extreme 40. He replaces Carolijn Brouwer (BEL) who will focus completely on her Tornado campaign, leading up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Team Holmatro will again represent the Netherlands in the iShares Cup Series 2008. In last year's edition, the Dutch entry finished second overall.

"Next year is an Olympic season, so many top multihull sailors are not available. We are lucky that Andreas Hagara leaves the Olympic spot to his younger brother Roman. That is good for us and we are pleased to contract Andreas as helmsman", said Jaap Meijer, CEO of Holmatro.

At least ten 40-foot catamarans will line up for the third spectacular racing circuit. The first series will be held in Switzerland, followed by France, Great-Britain, Germany and The Netherlands. In addition to this schedule, there will be several one-off events, like Round the Island Race and Centomiglia on Lake Garda.

The Austrian helmsman has an impressive record of fourteen medals in World and European championships. He started sailing the Tornado in 1985 and two years later he won his first world title in the Olympic class. He also claimed three European titles; in 1990, 1996 and in 2003. He and his brother, double Olympic champion Roman Hagara, dominated the world ranking for years.

www.teamholmatro.com

COLLINS STEWART LONDON BOAT SHOW
London's largest annual event, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show, will take place at ExCeL - the heart of London's entertainment district - from 11-20 January 2008. Now in its 54th year the Show promises to offer something for all, and will welcome some 140,000 people, encouraging visitors to take to the waters.

Visitors to the Show have a plethora of exciting features to explore and enjoy such as Start Boating, Deck Games, an interactive Watersports Zone, Anchor Watch, Classic Boats and the Guinness Bar. There will also be a chance to climb aboard the HMS Exeter, the very first Royal Naval Destroyer to the Show.

www.londonboatshow.com

JOYON PAST THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
At around 1950 last night Francis Joyon and his faithful three hulled steed IDEC 2 crossed the international dateline, the local clock flipping back by 24 hours.

As he predicted on Wednesday Joyon has gradually been easing south (his track at present is very much further south than Ellen's or his own on IDEC 1 was) in order to stay out of the clutches of the high pressure system trying to envelop him from the northwest.

IDEC 2 at present continues to enjoy brisk WSWerly winds, the gradient compressed between this high and a depression to the southwest. This situation looks set to remain for the next 2-3 days with the wind building gradually.

The next significant landmark Joyon is heading for is of course Cape Horn, still more than 3,200 miles away on the great circle, although this is reasonably meaningless as the great circle route would take him south to around 67 degrees S and it is highly unlikely Joyon will want to venture anywhere near the 60s. At his present pace, Joyon looks set to round Cape Horn on around 28 December. -- TheDailySail.com, www.thedailysail.com

* Gift subscriptions for TDS are a great last minute idea.... see www.thedailysail.com/gift

KEEP A LOOKOUT IF YOU'RE BETWEEN HAWAII AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
Friends of mine, Chris Malchow and Courtenay Steele left Hilo, Hawaii on the 8th September in their nine meter wooden ketch Takoroa II heading for Victoria BC Canada. They have now been reported as missing persons lost at sea as it has now been over three months since their departure from Hilo on Hawaii. Chris and Courtenay left New Zealand in June cruising to Tahiti and then on to Hilo, Hawaii.

Annie Hill wrote about Chris and Courtenay in her Blue Water letter in the September 2007 edition of Yachting Monthly. They also had a website www.island-bound.ca both have photos of the boat and Chris and Courtenay.

I would appreciate if you could print a small news item asking anyone who saw or heard anything about Chris and Courtenay to please E-mail me on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This would be gratefully appreciated by both their families and friends. The local TV stations and newspapers have ran numerous articles/reports but to no avail so far. -- Neal Trowbridge

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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* From Blue Robinson: Preparations are at fever pitch on board Mike Slade's Frail barque City Index Leopard here in sunny Sydney Town.

The vessel has been swabbed from stem to stern, the caulking checked, hard tack and provisions stowed and the intricate locking pin for the keel, the golden rivet polished by Roger the cabin boy.

Sealed orders have been secured in the master and commanders cabin, barrels of sweet water lashed to the base of the mast and all sextants calibrated to GMT via Radio 4 on the World service.

An advance party has made the difficult journey overland by stagecoach to Hobart to secure lodgings, fresh provisions, drinking vouchers and simple but portable translation dictionaries.

The fearless vessels crew have been issued with ex RNLI sou'wester hats and oiled canvas jackets. Lining up for a crew muster they all looked serious about the travails ahead, except Irish Tiller-man Gordon Maguire, a jolly jack tar, who was last seen without a smile on his face when his pet hamster Rodney died in 1972.

The arduous voyage ahead is not without competition. Australian Mister Robert Oatley has a fine full rigged ship in the form of Wild Oats X1, and transatlantic colonial Roger Sturgeon, not content with dumping Englands fine PG Tips in Boston Harbour, has entered a sleek pilot cutter "Rosebud" in this great endeavour.

On the morning of the race, after a simple but moving service on the dock, Russell Crowe look-alike Master Chris Sherlock shall gather the crew and give his pre - race oration, normally closing with, "We happy few, for those soaked with me today shall be my brother, and he who outsails this day and sees old age shall on the eve of Boxing day strip his sleeve, show his arm and say 'This sunburn I had on Boxing day', and gentlemen now abed in England, though wrapped in warm duvet's, shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, with heaving stomachs and salty earlobes, for we are warriors for the working day."

And, heads bowed, we shall warp out of the dock with crew hoarsely singing the national anthem, except Tiller-man Maguire, who mumbles the words to a simple but tuneless ditty from the Boomtown Rats...

* From Clemency Williams: In response to John Frazer's note:

Just a point of note when judging Dee's situation, 'The Naval Frigate learnt of Caffari's difficulties from Falmouth coast guard whilst en-route back from the Mediterranean for Christmas leave. The Commanding Officer, Martin Simpson, sent a message directly to Caffari onboard Aviva that they were 85 nautical miles away and able to make a small alteration course to offer assistance until a tug arrives today.' The frigate was not despatched to shelter yachtswoman Dee Caffari.

I'm sure if any one of us were in Dee's position, dismasted alone in a busy shipping area with the nearest land upwind and not enough fuel to motor there, then we would be extremely relieved and grateful for the watchful eye of a Royal Navy frigate whilst a tow was on the way.

* From Tim Wood: Your correspondent refers to a Royal Navy warship having been 'despatched' to the aid of Aviva and Dee Cafari. It was hardly 'despatched' - it seems that it merely made a brief alteration of course to assist a mariner in distress.

It is the Navy's main duty to be 'a security to all who pass upon the seas on their lawful occasion'. I for one as a British taxpayer am pleased that we still have warships that are on patrol and capable of doing this. It is a sacred duty of the Royal Navy.

FEATURED BROKERAGE
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THE LAST WORD
Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. - Carol Nelson

No issue for Christmas Day, Scuttlebutt Europe will return, a bit fatter and happier, on Boxing Day. Happy Holidays!

OC Events, www.ocevents.org , organisers of two major IMOCA 60 oceanic events, the new double-handed Barcelona World Race 2007, and the original solo transocean race, The Artemis Transat 2008 (ex-OSTAR) plus the Extreme 40 Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

www.YachtsandCruisers.com the new place to buy and sell prestige boats, the website has been designed to showcase high-end boats. People looking to buy prestige boats will be able to easily navigate their way around the site quickly. The portfolio of thousands of boats can be viewed by category, make, location and price. Alternatively the 'Advanced Search' facility will benefit those buyers who have a specific boat in mind.

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